FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2006
OTTAWA, ONTARIO Today the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, federal Minister of Labour attended a ceremony to mark the National Day of Mourning, instituted to commemorate workers killed, injured, disabled or suffering illness as a result of workplace tragedies.
"I wish to express my sympathy to the workers, and their families, friends and colleagues, who have been touched by occupational accident and illness," said Minister Blackburn. "I believe that the best way to honour these victims and their families is to work towards safer and healthier workplaces. There can be no better vehicle than education, awareness and co-operation to help us prevent tragic workplace accidents."
Almost four workers are killed every working day. Every year, close to 340,500 others are injured seriously enough to prevent them from reporting to work for at least one day. Nearly one million work-related injuries and illnesses are reported each year in Canada, and many of these accidents are preventable.
Safe and healthy workplaces were one of the issues Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for Labour discussed at their annual meeting held last month. The ministers agreed to greater cooperation and collaboration among jurisdictions in the promotion of occupational safety and health.
In December 1990, the Government of Canada passed the Workers Mourning Day Act, which established April 28th as the official day to be observed every year to commemorate workers injured or killed on the job, or who suffer from occupational illnesses.
For further information:
Roxane Marchand
Office of the Minister of Labour
(819) 953-5646
Media Relations
Human Resources and Social Development
(819) 994-5559
National Day of Mourning in Vincent Massey Park, Ottawa
OTTAWA
The Minister of Labour and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, speaks at the National Day of Mourning Ceremony in Vincent Massey Park, in Ottawa.
For more information, please contact:
Roxane Marchand
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Blackburn
(819) 953-5646
Media Relations
Human Resources and
Social Development Canada
(819) 994-5559
